the bravest thing

​

the bravest thing i ever did,

it wasn't staying up all night,

it wasn't piecing all of this together

into a song that i could sing,

into a song 'cause it was easier to sing

​

the bravest thing i ever did,

it wasn't even singing that song to you

on your ancient little piano

with colored writing,

little colored letters on the keys

​

the bravest thing i ever did, i think,

was looking at you,

meeting eye to eye,

after the last note had rung,

after the shrill vibrations died,

and saying,

​

"this song's for you,

it's for you..."

 

not me.

​

the bravest thing i ever did
it wasn’t making sure you had gone to sleep
and not what i feared,
not what you feared too,
and all that i could do was sing,

 

“this song’s for you.
it’s for you..."

 

not me.

 

no, i wasn’t brave,
no, that was you,
breathing in and breathing out for years,
waking up each day,
realizing you’re alive,
no, that was you,
that was you.

​

not me.

​

the bravest thing you ever did
was walking slowly, step by step,
into a future with no hope,
into a war with no victor,
only casualties, so many casualties
and that was you.
that was you...

 

not me.

​

djw + alana jones

​

​

i'll be there

​

see me, i want to see you

but sometimes i can't find a way

to get through to you

sometimes the distance gets too far to say,

but i'll be there, i'll be there someday

​

sometimes i wake up in bed

my head is filled with the memories of you

and how you're brave

and sometimes the memories are too hard to say,

but i'll be there, i'll be there someday

​

failure, it knocks at my chest,

there's nowhere to go, and i don't stand a chance

if i'm not the best,

if i don't get through to you

​

time races on, and the flowers that bloomed

now are gone

but i still believe, there's a dream inside me,

i'll be there

and some people wish that i'd never have stayed,

but i'll be there, i'll be there someday

​

​

​

sunrise

​

sunrise in my sight,

my star in the night

you always wanted

to hold my hand and listen to me

​

then one day,

i reached out to hold yours,

and you didn't take it,

like you didn't know me

and i didn't know you

​

still, you hold a place in my heart

the shape of your soul,

your wonderful, powerful, broken soul

​

and i wish a month, a day would pass

when i knew what you need...

​

​

​

always an advocate

​

you taught me how to dance

you taught me how to smile

you taught me the world was never meant for someone as wild

​

you taught me how to see

you taught me how to breathe

you taught me to try to be the someone you won't be

​

and i tried to do what you needed me to do

but i couldn't save you

​

you taught me how to give

you taught me how to grieve

you taught me to leave the one i love before i'm ready

​

now i pray to a god i never thought i'd need to,

but i couldn't find you

​

always an advocate,

this much i know

everyone feels what they don't show

i find strength in my softness,

courage in pain,

my power is in the voice i raise

when someone is crying,

when someone needs me the way i needed you

now i am a seeker and a wave-maker

​

always an advocate,

this much i see 

everything i will never be

there's pain in my memory,

sorrow in me,

everything that has made me

who i am

​

​

​

requiem (for the chances we never took)

​

​

deep in the unknown land,

i try to make some sense

of everything i never planned

​

(i will sing a requiem for them

when their days of wandering are numbered)

​

darest thou, o soul (do you dare?)

to walk out with me

into the unknown region?

no map there, 

nor touch of human hand to love

​

i know it not, o soul,

nor dost thou, 

all is a blank before us.

all waits undreamed of in that land

​

(i will sing a requiem for them

when their days of wandering are numbered)

​

every chance that never made me

who i am

​

djw + walt whitman (adap.)